Bill Ravens
September 27th, 2004, 07:32 AM
First, let me say that after a week of playing/shooting with my XL2, I'm totally awed by the quality of the output.
Looking at the data available on the CCD block, I read that the total area of the block is 960x720. In the 4:3 mode, it uses only a fraction of the CCD block with an area of 720x480. In the 16:9 mode, it still uses a fraction of the CCD block with an area of 960x480. I'm left wondering why Canon would make a CCD block oversize like this. Wouldn't it make more sense to make the block 960x480? Maybe it has something to do with the format of the CCD block during manufacture?
What would result if the entire block was used? The frame size would be 960x720, which is getting suspiciously close to the HD 720 format, albeit not widescreened. Would it be possible for a new format of 960x720? Not knowing the maximum frame size consistent with the clear aperture of the XL lenses, I'm guessing that the XL lenses won't handle a frame size much bigger than this without vignetting.
Bottom line....what's Canon's intent with a 960x720 CCD block? It seems non-sensical to me. Am I not understanding something?
Looking at the data available on the CCD block, I read that the total area of the block is 960x720. In the 4:3 mode, it uses only a fraction of the CCD block with an area of 720x480. In the 16:9 mode, it still uses a fraction of the CCD block with an area of 960x480. I'm left wondering why Canon would make a CCD block oversize like this. Wouldn't it make more sense to make the block 960x480? Maybe it has something to do with the format of the CCD block during manufacture?
What would result if the entire block was used? The frame size would be 960x720, which is getting suspiciously close to the HD 720 format, albeit not widescreened. Would it be possible for a new format of 960x720? Not knowing the maximum frame size consistent with the clear aperture of the XL lenses, I'm guessing that the XL lenses won't handle a frame size much bigger than this without vignetting.
Bottom line....what's Canon's intent with a 960x720 CCD block? It seems non-sensical to me. Am I not understanding something?